Черный тюльпан
The First Bulb
ThiswastooextraordinaryaninstancenottocallforthatonceCornelius’sinquiriesafteritscause.
“Oh!donotbeangrywithme,”shesaid,“itisnotmyfault.MyfatherhasrenewedanacquaintancewithanoldcronywhousedtovisithimattheHague,andtoaskhimtolethimseetheprison.Heisagoodsortoffellow,fondofhisbottle,tellsfunnystories,andmoreoverisveryfreewithhismoney,soasalwaystobereadytostandatreat.”
“Youdon’tknowanythingfurtherofhim?”askedCornelius,surprised.
“No,”sheanswered;“it’sonlyforaboutafortnightthatmyfatherhastakensuchafancytothisfriendwhoissoassiduousinvisitinghim.”
“Ah,so,”saidCornelius,shakinghisheaduneasilyaseverynewincidentseemedtohimtoforebodesomecatastrophe;“verylikelysomespy,oneofthosewhoaresentintojailstowatchbothprisonersandtheirkeepers.”
“Idon’tbelievethat,”saidRosa,smiling;“ifthatworthypersonisspyingafteranyone,itiscertainlynotaftermyfather.”
“Afterwhom,then?”
“Me,forinstance.”
“You?”
“Whynot?”saidRosa,smiling.
“Ah,that’strue,”Corneliusobserved,withasigh.“Youwillnotalwayshavesuitorsinvain;thismanmaybecomeyourhusband.”
“Idon’tsayanythingtothecontrary.”
“Whatcausehaveyoutoentertainsuchahappyprospect?”
“Rathersay,thisfear,MynheerCornelius.”
“Thankyou,Rosa,youareright;well,Iwillsaythen,thisfear?”
“Ihaveonlythisreason——”
“Tellme,Iamanxioustohear.
